All I want for Christmas is a Red Ryder BB gun?

rocklobster

rocklobster

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Ralphie : I want an Official Red Ryder carbine action two-hundred shot range model air rifle.

[Realizing he's made a mistake]

Ralphie : Ooohhh...

Mother : No, shoot your eye out.

Ralphie as an Adult : Oh, no! It was a classic, mother BB-gun block. "You'll shoot your eye out!" That deadly phrase honored many times by hundreds of mothers was not surmountable by any means known to Kiddom, but such as my mania, my desire for a Red Ryder carbine, that I immediately began to rebuild the dike.
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Okay guys my boy wants a bb gun for Christmas, I am concerned that the current Red Ryder is plastic junk like pretty much everything these days, is the Red Ryder any good? Are there any alternates that are better?

Thanks
 
Get him a cheaper pellet gun to start out. Way less chance of ricochets, more accuracy usually means more fun, takes longer to reload which can extend outings/shooting/together time, let's him assess the situation more instead of rapid firing (can be hard on the RR cocking lever), although the ammo will cost a bit more I think it's worth it.

But if set on BB then the current RRs aren't as bad as a lot of people describe. A little more flimsy feeling compared to older solid ones but if you don't try to abuse it you'll get a lot of firing out of it.
 
Thanks,
To add more info he's 8 and used a RR at his friends house last weekend and told me he was able to #### it himself, I would be worried that a Pellet gun would be too much effort to ####.
 
New RRs are a little stiff but the cocking lever is smaller and goes away from you, where a break barrel pellet gun the barrel is a lot longer so you'll get the lever effect making it about the same strength needed. Also the force being pulled in towards you is easier to manage and you can also snug the butt against your leg or side to help stabilize it while cocking, also making it easier.

I mostly advocate for pellets based on the safety factor. Them bbs flying back at you still have lots of energy and you can never know which direction they'll go. Over the years I lost a window, outdoor light, chipped a few things, and got hit a bunch of times (once on my glasses).

You guys will have a blast no matter what you get.
 
Yes that makes sense with the ricochet danger, when I was younger I stupidly shot at a corrugated steel culvert and the BB came back and hit me right below the eye on the ridge of my skull eye socket, scared me pretty good...

Any budget ($100 ish) pellet gun that stand out above the rest?
 
I recently bought the Heritage Red Ryder pkg at Bass Pro for $79.99 which includes an adult sized & standard (child) size. Nice combo to have fun together:)
The only plastic I can tell is the front sight and the lever on the standard. The adult is steel.
Tons of fun with cheap steel BB's and great for plinking tin cans, etc.
Wear eye protection. BB's will ricochet....."you'll shoot your eye out"

Update: The Heritage pkg is no longer on sale but they have the 105 Buck on sale for $39.99 and would fit your 8yo better(?). You'll have $$ left to buy him PPE and lots of ammo/targets....
 
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I have the Daisy BB gun my dad used as a kid (early 50's) and at least one I bought myself maybe 20 years ago. My opinion is that if a kid isn't able to #### one of these, perhaps he/she ought to wait a little to get into shooting. Not suggesting that's the OPs situation, but they're very much youth-oriented things. Easy to ####, hold lots of BBs, etc.

Are they a good choice?

Not in my opinion, but that's an adult's opinion. My kids never really warmed-up to the one I bought for them to use, though I would have probably been thrilled with one myself at that age. BBs are REALLY prone to ricochet, so eye protection and adult supervision really are key. I've been hit by BB ricochets, and all I remember is thinking is that it must be coming back at me faster than it left the barrel. lol Not true of course, but it's not fun either.

I was relatively young when I was given a Crosman 1377 with a Crosman 1399 shoulder stock. (came as a kit, new) I remember finding it difficult to pump 10X, but more pumps=more power, so it created some incentive. lol I remember enjoying that level of control. 3-4 pumps=not as loud, closer shots. Work-up a sweat going 10 pumps, but I could reach-out further...shoot THROUGH tougher cans up close, etc. One could do worse than that option, but perhaps a rifle/pumper would be better?

That rifle/link @ princess auto-probably a decent thing, I've never tried it...but if I ever encountered issues with an airgun purchase, the last place I'd like to take that up is the counter @ Princess Auto. I'd suggest a known/budget make like Crosman/Daisy and buy it at a big box store like Bass Pro/Cabela's. Info/parts shouldn't be too big an issue with these brands. Some mystery gun from PA? I sort of doubt it.
 
I have a Ruger Explorer for my boys. It is very small but still shootable for an adult. It is also much easier to #### than the red ryder which can be difficult for some adults actually. Its a good first step.

I should add we do have two Ryders as well as a Daisy buck. They do have plastic levers but I would never call them junk for what they are. My boys who are both under 8 need mom or my help to #### them but at their age I dont see anything wrong with that if you know what I mean. I bought an adult sized Ryder last Christmas and its great!
 
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